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More than a greeting, farewell or salutation - it’s about living in harmony through body, mind and soul.

It’s the meeting of mind and heart, honoring the presence of life force. The spirit of aloha permeates all life forms and correlates to all areas of our daily existence.

According to ancient teachings by kahunas (or priests), it’s a way of holding life with deep reverence. The act of living aloha is about caring for ourselves first then radiating that light to others. It is indeed the light we come from that requires our engagement.

Consider aloha as a verb. You do not have to be Hawaiian to express what it is we were simply born to do; to live in service to self as well as mankind.

“And all the knowledge is ourselves to know.” ~ Alexander Pope, Essay On Man.

For many of you who are practitioners of or receive forms of energy work, participate in yoga practice, meditation, or prayer, you may already have a working knowledge of the chakras and their influence on our state of wellness.

Simply Stated: Chakras are receivers and transmitters of energy.

Our chakra system is meant to keep us in alignment but when imbalanced, albeit emotional discord, unhealed old wounds, or feelings of unworthiness, these “symptoms” inexplicably cause us to languish from living whole, healthy, expansive lives.

The role of meditation is one tool that is a crucial key to instate a sense of good health and healing while balancing our subtle energies. Another excellent modality and one I provide is Reiki Energy Therapy. The short of it: silence and solitude is necessary to keep us in attunement and help manage fluctuations of our precious spiritual beings. Over the course of the next month or so I will be discussing chakras and integrating meditation for healing and balance.

As a visual aid, I’ve included the chakra chart below. To some, it may appear overly simplistic from a visual perspective, but as we get into the complex chakra system, we’ll explore the seven core chakras and how they impact us physically and spiritually; how their functionality radiates as a collective.

I’ve also added a page to my site called “Soul Life Collective”that you can access via the badge on the right side bar of my website (or here). I invite you to check in periodically for information and upcoming special events that you may find nourishing. My wish is that this page will offer insight and create awareness, while offering you solutions for healing and wholeness. By expanding you above and beyond what I share on my weekly blog, my wish is that you have a clear, streamlined understanding of their functionality and how it relates to all realms of your life.

Let’s begin.

Each chakra governs the physiological and psychological aspects of its placement and is directly correlated to our emotional, physical and spiritual well being. In order to function in synchronicity and flow, each cone shaped chakra must be spinning in a circular, clock-wise fashion. Simply put: when a chakra is deficient it’s, in essence, immobilized. If in excess of energy or overcompensation, it will spin more broadly or even backwards.

First Chakra: “aka” Root Chakra:

Color: Bright red.

Location: Base of spine.

Governs: Tip of your toes to your hips; bones, muscles and tendons, including the colon.

Represents: Connection to family of origin. Safety and security on a primal level; the basic need of being loved and nurtured.

Function: To pull up earth energy.

If Imbalanced: Fear, feelings of not being “rooted”, “tethered” or “grounded”. This chakra is the foundation of our entire energetic system.

Antidote: Spend time in nature, with family or create, nurture and strengthen familial type friendships. Join a collective that fosters and supports your spiritual growth such as yoga class, a faith based community or a writing group. Spend time journaling and in reflection to help reconcile your past and absorb the root concept that you are a significant being.

You possess the sage wisdom to activate the “I am” of who you are. Restructuring our spiritual lives and evolving to our utmost human capacity, will shift us forward to our essential selves. This act begins with the knowing, the longing and our capacity for more. Actualize your deeper purpose by avoiding serial monotony and playing small; live larger than life, by responding to your soulful yearnings.

We are an expression of our past and our future; we have a responsibility not only to ourselves, but to our ancestors and descendants alike.

Be open to the limitless field of possibility, symbolic wisdom and capacity for more of what life holds for you. Like Joseph Campbell, an architect in his own mind and a proponent for creating a joyful existence, aim for highly sustained creativity – the gateway to joy.

You are the calligraphy of Spirit + Source: That of Body, Mind + Heart

Coaches Rx:read and repeat the following -

Mantra: “I’m synergy + pure energy. Enlightenment runs through my veins. I know who I am. I know where I’m going. I am rife with possibility and have the power to move mountains.”

It wasn’t so long ago I remember taking my first Hatha yoga class. It was the 1990’s, I recall thinking, “what is this”? What possibly will I gain from this passive movement, silence and om’ing?

It took five years to really understand. I remember the day that I “got” yoga.

I had just returned from visiting my brother who was then incarcerated in Florence, Arizona. It had been a week; a revolving door of barbwire, concrete and 112 degree heat. I was grateful for our five hour-a-day visits, my roll of quarters for the vending machine “cuisine” and the Casa Grande ruins where I’d stop and sit in stillness, listening to the sound of flutes reverberate through the canyons. I recall the day of not being in such a state of gratitude for a female prison guard, who announced that I had to find more “acceptable attire”, or I wouldn’t be allowed visitation. Not allowed, really? To me, those were some fightin’ words. The skirt I wore almost down to my ankles, by the way, wassuper cute. I’m certain that my response of not really liking her hair and make-up or her attitude didn’t help solidify any future “red carpet” treatment. But I didn’t care; I drove like hell to Walmart like it was my best friend. I found something highly flammable, yet fashionable that met prison guidelines, not to mention enjoyed the exchange with a cheerful Walmart greeter, who really lifted my spirits. ;)

Back to yoga.

That day back on the mat, I was at a breaking point. After one week of “stuffing” my emotions and pat downs, I was glad to be back to the unfamiliarity of my “practice”, whatever that was. Lying there in cobbler’s pose after a few rounds of hip openers, it happened; tears came flooding like the Hoover Dam. That day, I finally got yoga.

Yoga saved me. It kept me from breaking in a place that wasn’t deserving of bearing witness to me or anyone else in a fragile or vulnerable state. It enabled me to sit for hours and days on end and delay the inevitable of once again, leaving my brother behind. Yoga gave me the ability to return to and re-enter my so called “normal” life with family and friends. I was ultimately bolstered into becoming more neutral and composed, so not to fall apart at times when I had to render strength and support for my loved ones. Yoga helped me sustain value and honor for myself and for my family while in a space where dignity is a ghost.

It’s not too often that you meet people you immediately connect with. Recently, I was fortunate to be introduced to a group of talented female entrepreneur’s. Once a week we’d participate on a call focused on offering support and sharing ideas both personally and professionally. Our time together proved to be both productive and inspiring.

From that group I happened to hit it off with a sweetheart of a woman named Carrie Hensley - a yoga instructor, speaker and transformative workshop facilitator from Arizona.

Carrie is a person that moves through life with a zest and passion for helping others move forward. We’ve had many spirited conversations and tend to see the world through a similar lens. I guess you can call her my “soul sister on the planet”!

Recently, Carrie was generous enough to feature me on her Soul-Full Sunday blog! You can read that article here.

I encourage you, both men and women alike, to take stock of those around you. Consider someone who may be a great soul partner and beneficiary for the revolving door of support and inspiration that come from finding your tribe.

For those of us who are entrepreneurs, artists, writers, visionaries, healers + social lightworkers, it can make all the difference in our quest to boldly finesse our collective ideas into fruition.

She embodies and exemplifies idealism, courage and valor; demands what’s intended for the highest purpose - the greater good.

They rally us to gather and work in communion – they give us hope, unite us and shore us up.

Much more than self-righteous or self- sacrificial, they are Souls that are driven by concepts of fairness and justice; understanding the world may be unjust, but willing to do the work to create the inverse by any means necessary.

Warrior like Spirits: willing to show up and respond to their calling. They shoulder us, they soldier on.

These heroines are writers, activists and change makers.

Women who give voice to and stand for the un-just, oppressed and marginalized.

This is a short list of a large collective, who have inspired me. {In no particular order}

A couple years back, when I was on a slow-but-steady transition from commercial hair + make-up to my passionate pursuit as an emerging life and business coach, I experienced a bout of mental fog. My studio/office was in upheaval; too much home-life-business “stuff” overlapping. It was breaking my creative mojo; the studio space I once loved felt chaotic and claustrophobic.

I’m blessed to have a multitude of über talented rock-solid friends who’ve graced my life. One of them: my dear friend Karin Saldaña. Karin happens to be a kick-ass intuitive space clearer; a seer of epic possibilities pertaining to organizing, repurposing and clearing space.

As a professional “personal organizer”, Karin has worked with exclusive “A list” clients, entrepreneurs, artists and retirees who are in need of creating usable space and have the desire to shed the excess that’s holding them back. Karin will capably create an environment that is reflective of your soul and deviseintegrated systems that will allow you to keep it all intact. In certain cases, she can work via Skype.

I sent her a plane ticket and she worked for two days. I’ll tell you, it was worth it.

Clearing space is a sacred act. It’s about honoring, anchoring and creating space for you; an offering that allows for the sustainable emotional and creative clarity you desire to come to fruition. The power to move mountains…..

The following is a message and offering from Karin -

“I am not going to tell you it is going to be easy, I’m telling you it is going to be worth it” -Unknown

As we enter into 2013, many of us have set new goals for the year, perhaps to improve our diets, eat clean and healthy, challenge ourselves to train harder or lose weight, the list can go on. I would like to challenge you to take a look around your home.

*Are you living in a clutter-free space?

*Do all your personal belongings have a place?

*Are you able to find items with ease?

*Do you feel overwhelmed, too tired to prepare your meals and eat better, no desire or motivation for your workouts?

*Do you have time to enjoy the things in life that are most important to you?

*Are you living in your ideal space and happy with how your home feels?

Your home is a reflection of your state of mind, as is your body. One of the biggest challenges with clutter in your home is it blocks growth in your life. It can also affect your health, career, relationships and your wealth. When we are overwhelmed with “stuff”, our lifestyle starts to suffer. We lose desire and time passes on the things we intended for ourselves. Working as a professional organizer for over 20 plus years, I have experienced with client after client that once the de-clutter begins, their lives shift. The clarity and cleansing they feel in their home begins to shift their personal lives. Some may make career changes, some may lose weight or some may find love. Whatever was out of alignment before will begin to attract new beginnings when in alignment. I believe in starting small, but to START.

An example may be to start in your kitchen, if your goal is to improve your diet and eat cleaner.

*Take all items out of your cupboards, pantry and shelves, sections at a time.

*Throw out all expired foods. More often than not, a client will have three or more of the same spices. This happens when we are not organized.

*Toss out old pots and pans that have lost their coatings, replace with new ones that will make you feel better when you are preparing your healthy meals.

I would like to offer a complimentary consultation by STAGE Personalized Lifestyle Services.

“Beauty is life when life unveils her holy face. But you are life and you are the veil. Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. But you are eternity and you are the mirror.” ~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Do you know how beautiful you are?

Unwavering self worth is your cornerstone in life. Self-worth creates grounding and allows love to emanate through and around you. It offers the experience of beauty through wholeness. An abundance of beauty provides a vantage point that enhances fluidity in your present and your future. Living in alignment creates harmonious aspects that allow you to individuate, connect with spirit and be in union with your core essence.

* Create a healthy spiritual environment: Cocoon and shelter yourself in moments of uncertainty. Surround yourself with people that genuinely love and care for you.

* Be the gatekeeper of your conscious and subconscious mind: Perpetuate naturally occurring positive states of mind by “hanging out” between silence and thought; that’s where your beauty and strength lie.

Your being is your birthright; you have a backstage pass to excellence and self expression.

The time is now to define “the why” relative to your time here. No time for short cuts… it’s about showing up and bringing your best, it’s about finding flow and kicking ass. This is not my friend, a life to squander.

The promise in stepping out of the confines of “normalcy” and stepping into personal greatness is that life as you know it will never be the same. It’s your moral imperative to fulfill life to its deepest depth and learn self expression in a way that’s most reflective of your soul.

Exploring the “Best” of Soul-Full living:

* What creates expansion and what causes you to shrink? Meditate on that. It’s all about ditching the shrinkage.

* We are a continuum of one another. The choices you make impact those around you; so choose your thoughts and goals with great care.

* What we fail to complete short changes the larger scope of our essence and potentiality. Do what you say you’re going to do, fulfill your commitments - there is a lesson after each and every one of them.

The end result: You’ll bear witness to inherent magnificence in full bloom.

Watch this amazing performance: The Kennedy Center Honors featuring the Wilson sisters and a stage of supporting artists, bringing their best to honor Led Zeppelin.